ATLANTIC CITY—Much of Atlantic City's bid to remake itself as more than a casino town was reflected in the Revel Casino Hotel, a glassy $2.4 billion skyscraper that opened in 2012—hailed by Gov. Chris Christie and local officials as a game-changer.

Targeting an affluent crowd, Revel owners decided not to offer the standard, all-you-can-eat buffet and loaded up the property with luxury amenities like free, in-room tablet computers...